樱花导航

MSU names interim director for Laboratory Animal Resources

MSU names interim director for Laboratory Animal Resources

Contact: James Carskadon

Studio portrait of Bridget Willeford
Dr. Bridget Willeford (Photo by Tom Thompson)

A longtime 樱花导航 樱花导航 clinical veterinarian will lead the university鈥檚 Office of Laboratory Animal Resources on an interim basis.

Dr. Bridget Willeford will begin serving as interim director for Laboratory Animal Resources and University Veterinarian on Dec. 16. She succeeds Dr. Lucy H. Senter, who is retiring after serving as director of the office for 15 years.

The Office of Laboratory Animal Resources provides veterinary care and animal husbandry resources for all animals required in biomedical research, teaching and testing programs at MSU. The office is under the guidance of the university鈥檚 vice president for research and economic development. During her time at MSU, Senter has worked to ensure the university鈥檚 research animals receive the best possible care and that all work with animals meets federal guidelines and regulations.

鈥淭his office plays an important role because animals in research settings need an advocate and a veterinarian that can speak for them,鈥 Senter said. 鈥淭he lab animal veterinarian plays that role for the animals. I will miss many aspects of this job, but, most of all, the people.鈥

Willeford has served as a clinical veterinarian in the Office of Laboratory Animal Resources since 2004. She is board certified by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. At MSU鈥檚 College of Veterinary Medicine, she has taught classes in lab animal health management and lab animal technical skills, in addition to teaching a small animal clinical experience class. A 2001 graduate of MSU鈥檚 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, Willeford also earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from MSU in biochemistry and molecular biology.

鈥淢y top priority is to make sure the animals are well cared for,鈥 Willeford said. 鈥淚 want to make sure they鈥檙e provided with the daily healthcare they need and that the research is conducted appropriately. I look forward to working with our wonderful staff to continue this important work.鈥

MSU is 樱花导航鈥檚 leading university, available online at .